The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-02-12

point, a small door opening on the
patio, she seated herself IN great arm
chair of willow work, and for a brief
time gave herself up to the luxury of
weeping. For with all her force
and decision of character, bona
CleofaS was but a woman, and
it might be on the cards that she should
gaze not on the faces of her children
again. She had brought her arsenal
with her; no cunning fabrication of
Colts nor MANIPULATED Winchester for
these inventions of murderous man to
MAIN and STAY his fellows bona Cleafas
had not the slightest use she was the
traditional woman in her horror of fire
arms, and would not have known how
TO make offensive use of them, unless
as missiles to be hurled against an in
truder's head. But alongside her and
resting against her knee lay a heavy,
long-helved axe, whose keen, broad
edge had never been turned against
knot of Stubborn oak nor the gnarled
roots that serve as fuel Whereabouts.
And bona Cleofas had all faith in the
power of her own right arm to WELD it
hard and we'll against foe. The night
went on, the silence was unbroken
and Dona Cleofas slept-slept hard
and fast, until all at once, with a start,
she was as wide awake as ever she was
in her life, and realizing that very close
to her the throat of a man was emitting
labored yet rapid breathings. The au-
dltory sense was strong and definite in
bona Lleofas, and 1t took her not
many seconds to decide that the in
ruder had crawled through an opening
cut IN the panel of the door before
her, and there he was, apparently
S"uSht iao', opia"lihS, Nld"tIS anu
wriggling to force himself further in and
clear of the opening. Now and then
IN the fellows contortons his hot
breath swept the hand of the watcher.
bona Cleotas drew deep, soundless
breath, and, rising swiftly, noiselessly
to her feet. raised the axe in the air.
Swift as light it fcll-crack one mighty,
Convulsive Nrithe, and the man, with
that last twisting shudder, had drawn
himself past the grip of the ragged
planks, and bona Cleofas, stopping
rcsolutely, drew him quite within with
as natural movement as her quivering
nerves could compass.
y few moments of silence then,
barely audible, a sibilant whisper:
Chou, Lencho, is all well?" Through
the followed hands of bona Cleofas
an answer was sent back "All we'll
come on - Then, almost breath for
breath, that same scene unviewcd in
the great darkness was enacted, and
yet again.
But the third time, what with the
strain on her overweight nerves and
the tax on her aching muscles, as she
had dragged aside three well-grown
heavy bodics-the third time, and little
wonder, bona Cleofas could not an
swer TO the question art safely inl
Does all 60 well:o" But the fourth man,
cautiously putting hi, head within the
gap to reconnoitre, just missed the I'M
failing blow of the heavy axe.
''Por Dos but what was that? Some
treachery is here" lis voice broke
forth. "And-the earth beneath the
door is wet-with something slippery
hot-sood God-with blood !' There
was smothered howl of rage and
fear, the rush of scuffling feet, a ladder
rafting against the wall as it was drawn
up to the roof, and Dona Cleofas was
alone but for the dead.
The dawn had not yet opened into
day when Waterman, staying the
steps OF tottering woman, knocked
at the great zaguan door of the efe
Politico's house, and after a parley
with the servant on duty and his sum-
mons to the master, the perfect came
forth, looking curiously at the pale,
haggard face of his early guest.
But what is this, good Dona Gle
ofas? | cannot credit the tale, and yet,
your blood stained hands and garb-
we'll, we'll You 90 not hence on foot
nor fasting. After SO sore a struggle
you must want strength. Come in and
sit you down, while coffee and wine
are brought to US and the horses are
put to my coach"
But if the good woman had seemed
faint and i'll when she sought the aid of
the project, she had well nigh recov-
cred her wonted calm and self-reliance
when she stood an hour later beside
that dignitary and watched his wonder
ing face while he stripped the black
masks from the faces of the dead.
This is 'El Zorro the Fox" he
murmurcd, consulting formidable
looking paper adorned with great req
seals ''tnat is to say he corresponds
in every particular with the description
of that bandit, sent up for my instruc-
ton by my esteemed colleague, the
Jctc of Zacatccas. This bearded one
must be-yes-the Tarantula and
this one-hola | seem to know his
fac ~
NO doubt" said bona Cleofas,
dryly; with the name of Lorenzo
(,Irri, he h1c baap ,l,vipu tho rrolI,pt